Wife's delays after choir sessions land man in court

A magistrate yesterday told a 66-year-old man that hitting his 43-year-old wife was unacceptable and that violence was never an option.

The man tried to explain to Magistrate Consuelo Scerri Herrera what happened during the argument and what lead him to lash out at his wife. The court cut him short and explained that he should never resort to violence.

The man stands charged with slightly injuring his wife, threatening her and resisting the police.

Shedding a tear during the arraignment, his wife explained to the court that they have a disabled child who is in care at Dar tal-Providenza and a 15-year-old son.

On hearing this, the court stressed that violence in the presence of children would have a negative impact on them as children did not need to witness any of it.

The magistrate said it seemed that the couple's relationship was salvageable and ordered that they see a senior probation officer to help them sort out any problems.

Police sources said the argument erupted on Sunday evening when the man, who was drunk, accused his wife of infidelity because she would stay an hour extra at her choir group.

Defence lawyers Andy Ellul and Vince Micallef asked the court for bail and the magistrate agreed provided the accused did not go anywhere near the woman's house.

On hearing this, the man told the court that he was the only one who could wake-up their son for work at 7.30 a.m. and that he needed to be there for him.

The court granted him permission to go to the house only after his wife had left for work and he could only stay there until 11.30 a.m. and definitely leave before she got back.

He was granted bail against a personal guarantee of €1,000 and ordered not to speak to his wife until the court felt it was safe to do so.

Police Inspector Tony Cachia prosecuted.